Strategically situated in the southern tip of South East Asia with the Indian Ocean and the Straits of Melaka on the west and the South China Sea in the east, Malaya(Malaysia) was at the centre of trade routes between India, the Middle East, Europe, China and Japan. This not only invited trading activities but also opened up the country to a sizable immigrant population and consequently to religious, linguistic and cultural influences

Melaka or Malacca as known in historical books was the main marine entrepot of south east asia throughout the 14th & early 15th century. Trading in the waters were then dominated by the Chinese, Arab, Indians and the Malays. As reputation grew and the founding of spices such as cloves and nutmeg became a priceless commodity in europe, the rise and fall of malacca was sealed.

Anyone with a fetish for monoliths and ancient graves, Pengkalan Kempas is the place to head for. It's a little place just 60km away from Melaka with a small, predominantly Chinese population of 1000people

Although not as grandiose as those found in Sumatra, where the tips of the horn-shaped roofs rise up high above the main structure, Istana Ampang Tinggi retains the structural layout of Minangkabau houses.

Kota (fort) Lukut remains as one of the best-preserved Bugis forts in the country. Although what is left of the fortress is hardly mentionable as compared with other ancient ruins but like all ruins, there is a strong presence of the old spirits ; spirits that had protected the grounds centuries before from pending danger and invasions.

The 'replaced' palace or istana of Sri Menanti is one of the few last remaining timber palaces in Malaysia and was built between 1902 and 1908 for Tuanku Muhammad Shah, the 7th Ruler or Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan.

Bujang Valley stretches all the way from Gunung Jerai in the North to Sungai Muda in the South. The area concentrated around the mouth of Sungai(River) Muda has been of economic importance to Kedah since as early as the 5th Century AD. Buddhist inscriptions found in the valley were proof that the Indian traders were already making frequent visits to the area during these early periods